Q: What is the size range of mice and rats that can be used with the MouseOx?
A: The MouseOx® works on mice and rats ranging in size from a neonatal mouse to rats over 500gm. The subject must have a heart rate of at least 90 BPM and no greather than 900 BPM.

Q: Does the MouseOx® work on animals other than mice and rats?
A: The MouseOx® is being used in many research projects on subjects other than mice and rats. Some examples include Guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits and small primates. However, the MouseOx® oxygen saturation measurment has only been validated on mice and rats.

Q: Will the MouseOx® work on subjects with non-white fur?
A: Yes, the MosueOx® works on subjects with all colors of fur. For any animal with non-white fur however, the sensor location must be shaved. It should be noted that for animals that have very darkly pigments skin, it is difficult for the light to penetrate through the tissue, and the MouseOx® may have difficulty obtaining measurments with such subjects.

Q: Can the MouseOx® be used on awake subjects?
A: Yes. The MouseOx® has been designed to work on either anesthetized or awake subjects as long as the subject is motionless for at least a few seconds.

Q: How does the MouseOx® obtain the respiratory rate from the sensor?
A: In human pulse oximetry, a visible variation in a blood pressure signal with breat rate is know as pulsus paradoxus. The signal change results from peripheral blood volume changes caused by variations in intrathoracic pressure resulting from the mechanics of breathing. The breath signal is not generally observable on the raw pulse oximetry signals coming from the MouseOx®, but our detection algorithms are sensitive enough to elucidate them, allowing us to make accurate measurements of breath rate.

Q: Does the MouseOx® need to be connected to any other equipment in order to function?
A: The MouseOx® needs to be connected to a computer via a 2.0 USB port. It also requires a wall outlet for power.

Q: Is the MouseOx® compatible with Apple/Mac computers?
A: Yes, provided your Apple/Mac is operating under a Windows® emulator.

Q: How does the MouseOx® calculate arterial oxygen saturation from a PaO2?
A: The MouseOx® does not calculate arterial oxygen saturation from PaO2 since it cannot measure PaO2. Like all pulse oximeters, it directly measures the absorption of light by hemoglobin, which varies depending n the degree to which oxygen is bound to hemoglobin. Because 97% of oxygen is carried to the tissues by hemoglobin, arterial oxygen saturation is a very good indicator of cardio-pulmonary status.

Q: How often do i need to calibrate the MouseOx®?
A: The MouseOx® has been calibrated at the factory, and this calibration has been embedded in the software. As such, the MouseOx® does not require any further calibration.

Q: What is the expected range of oxygen saturation for anesthetized and awake mice?
A: As with humans, oxygen saturation for mice and rats should be in the range of 95-97%. This range should be the same for both anesthetized and awake animals, as long as anesthetized animals are administered a proper level of anesthesia. It should be noted that seemigly health, happy rodents will sometimes breathe into a corner of their habitat, which can cause their saturation to drop as low as the high 80's. We attribute this to re-breathing, and the animals do not seem to be bothered by it.

Q: How many subjects can the MouseOx® monitor at a time?
A: The MouseOx® is limited to recording one subject as a time however, with our Multiplexer for the MouseOx Plus we are able to monitor up to 16 subjects one at a time from one MouseOx Plus.

Q: Has the MouseOx® ever been used in any studies that have been published?
A: Yes, the MouseOx® has been referenced in hundreds of peer-reviewed publications.

Q: What are Pulse Distention and Breath Distention?
A: Pulse Distention and Breath Distention are the amplitudes of the cardiac and breathing light absorption signals. Pulse Distention is a measure of the local blood flow at the sensor location, while Breath Distention is proportional to intrathoracic pressure.